2026 PROGRAMME COMPLETED
From Emerging Talent to Industry Leadership
The inaugural IAPCO & FIEXPO Emerging Leaders Programme – LATAM 2026 has concluded, marking an important milestone in the shared commitment of IAPCO and FIEXPO to developing the next generation of meetings industry leaders across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The programme brought together 17 emerging professionals from 12 countries for five leadership-focused modules, following approximately 50 expressions of interest from across the region.
Representing PCOs, DMCs, convention bureaux and other meetings industry organisations, participants strengthened their capabilities in strategic thinking, governance, stakeholder management, financial acumen, adaptability and leadership.
Delivered through the IAPCO Training Academy in partnership with FIEXPO Exhibitions Group, and with the support of IAPCO Accredited Member BTC Americas and its BTC Connects platform, the programme combined international expertise with regional insight and relevance.
About the Programme
The IAPCO-FIEXPO Emerging Leaders Programme – LATAM has been created to identify and nurture emerging talent within Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs) and Destination Management Companies (DMCs) across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Through a structured educational journey, participants will gain access to practical learning, mentorship, collaboration opportunities and engagement with industry leaders from across the international meetings community. The programme forms part of IAPCO’s broader global workforce development strategy and commitment to strengthening professional excellence, leadership capability and regional capacity across the meetings industry. More than a training programme, this initiative is an investment in people, their growth, their potential and their future contribution to our industry.
The programme culminates in the Jorge Castex Scholarship, named in honour of Jorge Castex, former IAPCO President, former Chair of the IAPCO Training Academy, and one of Latin America's most respected meetings industry leaders. The Scholarship winner will receive complimentary access to ACE I (IAPCO Accredited Conference Expert, Level 1)*, delivered online.
*Member login required.
Programme Leadership and Faculty
The learning journey was guided by Jimena Ruiz, IAPCO Council Member, IAPCO Training Academy Regional Representative for LATAM and Chief of Staff at BTC Americas, who served as Programme Moderator and Faculty Lead.
The programme brought together five recognised meetings industry leaders, each contributing specialist expertise to one of its leadership-focused modules:
- Juan José García, Global Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, BCO Congresos
- José Bisteni, Director of Operations, Servimed
- Renata Pozza, Association Solutions Director, MCI Brazil
- Mariano Castex, Managing Director, Latin America, MCI Group
- Álvaro Rojas, General Manager, Costa Rica Convention Center
Together, the faculty combined extensive regional experience with international industry perspectives, sharing practical knowledge across leadership, governance, stakeholder management, strategic programme design, financial strategy, innovation and resilience.
Programme Moderator
& Faculty Lead
Jimena Ruiz
IAPCO Council Member
IAPCO Training Academy Regional Representative, LATAM
Chief of Staff, BTC Americas
Jimena will guide participants throughout the programme, facilitating discussions and fostering engagement across the educational journey. As Programme Moderator, she will help connect participants with faculty members, encourage peer-to-peer learning and support meaningful interaction with the wider IAPCO community, ensuring a collaborative and enriching experience for all involved.
Module 1: The Modern PCO: Leadership Identity in the Global Meetings Industry
Juan José García
Global Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, BCO Congresos
Participants examined the evolving role of the Professional Congress Organiser and explored how strategic leadership can create long-term value for clients, destinations, organisations and wider stakeholder communities.
Module 2: Accountability & Governance in Congress Management
Jose Bisteni
Director of Operations, Servimed
The second module explored accountability, governance and organisational responsibility, providing practical insight into ethical decision-making, professional responsibility and the structures that support transparent and sustainable event delivery.
Module 3: Committee Management & Strategic Programme Design
Renata Pozza
Director of Association Solutions, MCI Brazil, MCI Group
Participants considered how effective committee leadership, meaningful stakeholder engagement and purposeful programme design can support organisational objectives and create lasting impact.
Module 4: Budgeting, Negotiation & Financial Strategy
Mariano Castex
Managing Director, Latin America, MCI Group
This module strengthened participants’ commercial awareness through practical learning in budgeting, negotiation, financial strategy and confident decision-making within complex event environments.
Module 5: Leading the Future of the Meetings Industry
Álvaro Rojas
General Manager, Costa Rica Convention Center
The final module focused on leadership, innovation, resilience and adaptability, encouraging participants to think boldly about their role in shaping the future of the meetings industry.
The vision behind the Programme
In a short video, Jimena Ruiz, IAPCO Council Member, IAPCO Training Academy Regional Representative for LATAM, and Chief of Staff at BTC Americas, introduces the initiative, shares its educational journey and explains how it is designed to support and inspire the next generation of meetings industry leaders across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Watch Jimena’s introduction below.
The Jorge Castex Scholarship
Named in honour of Jorge Castex, IAPCO Past President, former Chair of the IAPCO Training Academy and one of Latin America’s most respected meetings industry leaders, the scholarship celebrates a legacy of leadership, education and professional excellence.
Widely recognised as a foundational figure in the development of the modern PCO profession, Jorge’s commitment to professional development continues to inspire meetings professionals across Latin America and around the world.
The scholarship honours this legacy while creating opportunities for future leaders to continue building on his contribution to the industry.
One participant from the inaugural cohort will receive complimentary access to ACE I—IAPCO Accredited Conference Expert, Level 1, enabling them to continue building their professional knowledge and leadership capabilities.
The 2026 Jorge Castex Scholarship recipient will be announced soon. Stay tuned.
Leadership Perspectives
The IAPCO-FIEXPO Emerging Leaders Programme – LATAM reflects a shared commitment to developing leadership capability, strengthening regional capacity and supporting the long-term sustainability of the meetings industry.
“The long-term sustainability of the global meetings industry depends on how deliberately we cultivate leadership across generations. Emerging leaders must be integrated into governance, strategy and decision-making.
“Latin America and the Caribbean continue to demonstrate growing capability, influence and innovation within the global meetings industry. This programme provides a structured pathway to nurture talent, strengthen regional capacity and connect emerging professionals with the international meetings community.
“By investing in emerging leaders today, we are strengthening the long-term resilience, professionalism and global influence of the meetings industry across Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Martin Boyle, CEO of IAPCO
“FIEXPO is proud to partner with IAPCO to bring the FIEXPO & IAPCO Emerging Leaders Programme to Latin America and the Caribbean. We are especially honoured that the scholarship bears the name of Jorge Castex, an IAPCO past President, a great advocate for professional development in LATAM and around the world, and one of the most influential figures in the history of our industry who continues to inspire many of us.
“This initiative reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the meetings industry through collaboration, leadership excellence and regional impact. By combining FIEXPO’s regional platform and IAPCO’s global expertise, we are creating lasting opportunities for professionals across Latin America and the Caribbean while honouring Jorge Castex’s enduring contributions to our sector.”
Arnaldo Nardone, Director of FIEXPO Exhibitions Group
“At IAPCO, education is central to our mission to advance professional excellence and strengthen the global business events industry. We are committed to delivering learning opportunities that respond to the distinct needs of each region, equipping professionals with the knowledge, skills and networks needed to thrive.
“Latin America and the Caribbean are home to extraordinary talent, innovation and ambition. By combining IAPCO’s global education expertise with the strength of our regional network and strategic partnerships, we are creating a practical learning journey that equips professionals with the skills, confidence and international perspective needed to advance their careers and contribute to the future of our industry.”
Jimena Ruiz, IAPCO Council Member and IAPCO Training Academy Regional Representative for LATAM
With Thanks to Our Programme Community
The inaugural programme was made possible through the shared vision and collaboration of IAPCO and FIEXPO Exhibitions Group, together with the support of the IAPCO Training Academy, BTC Americas and BTC Connects.
IAPCO and FIEXPO extend their sincere thanks to the programme faculty, partners and contributors who shared their time, knowledge and experience throughout the learning journey.
Above all, we congratulate the 17 emerging professionals who embraced this opportunity with curiosity, commitment and ambition. Their participation made the inaugural programme a meaningful investment in the future of the meetings industry across Latin America and the Caribbean.
A New Generation of Industry Leaders
The inaugural IAPCO & FIEXPO Emerging Leaders Programme – LATAM demonstrated the value of investing deliberately in emerging talent.
For the 17 professionals who took part, this programme represented more than a learning experience. It provided a platform to build confidence, expand perspectives, form valuable professional connections and begin shaping their own leadership journeys.
Emerging leaders are not only the future of the meetings industry. They are already shaping its present.
Interested in Future Programmes?
The 2026 programme has now concluded, but the commitment of IAPCO and FIEXPO to developing emerging talent across Latin America and the Caribbean continues.
Stay tuned on this page for future programme announcements, educational opportunities and updates from the IAPCO Training Academy.